The 2030 World Cup is set to be played in Europe and Africa with the surprising addition of South America in a deal to allow the men’s football tournament to start with a 100th birthday party in Uruguay.
FIFA reached an agreement on Wednesday between football’s continental leaders to accept only one candidate for hosting the 2030 tournament, the sport’s governing body said.
The Spain-Portugal bid grew to add Morocco this year and now also includes long-time bid rivals Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.
A key lure of the unprecedented three-continent project will open in the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo, where the Centenario Stadium hosted the inaugural 1930 World Cup final.
‘The centennial World Cup could not be far from South America, where everything began,’ said Alejandro Dominguez, the president of South American soccer body CONMEBOL. ‘The 2030 World Cup will be played in three continents.’
The consensus reached by once-rival football continents also let FIFA fast-track opening the 2034 World Cup bidding contest on Wednesday which is limited to member federations from Asia and Oceania.
Saudi Arabia has targeted the 2034 edition and Australia is also interested after successfully co-hosting the Women’s World Cup this year with New Zealand.
The FIFA Council’s acceptance of a unified 2030 candidacy still needs formal approval next year at a meeting of the 211 member federations, although that is likely to be just a formality.
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— FIFA Media (@fifamedia) October 4, 2023
FIFA Council takes key decisions on FIFA World Cup™ editions in 2030 and 2034: Morocco, Portugal and Spain joint bid is the sole candidate to host FIFA World Cup 2030™
➡️https://t.co/cKJec1tIE4 pic.twitter.com/mwLRerCIlg
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